Create a Family Culture that Loves to Read

There is so much negativity out there on reading. So many adults and kids hate reading. I want my kids to enjoy and love reading. I love the quote by Harry Truman, “Leaders are readers.” This is so true!! Being a continual learner is key to success.

Reading opens our eyes to new ideas, potentials, and creativity we would never have had. I can honestly say, I would be a totally different person today if I didn’t read. Reading has transformed my life. Books have changed my perspective and helped guide me through marriage, pregnancy, parenting, and so much more.

I want to instill in my kids the hunger for learning and the love of reading for their own pleasure. Plus, reading is incredibly beneficial for our kids.

–Reading aloud to young children is not only one of the best activities to stimulate language and cognitive skills; it also builds motivation, curiosity, and memory.

–The single most significant factor influencing a child’s early educational success is an introduction to books and being read to at home prior to beginning school.

-Creating a steady stream of new, age-appropriate books has been shown to nearly triple interest in reading within months.

As you can see, reading is so important in our children’s development. So how do we encourage a culture of reading at home?

4 Ways to Encourage Your Kids to Read

ONE

Turn the T.V. Off

The television is such a convenience and it is our cultures normal. The average child watches about 24 hours of T.V. each week. Yikes! Television encourages kids to feel the need to be constantly entertained. Not only that, T.V. doesn’t stimulate our kid’s brains and it decreases their physical activity level.

If your kids are used to a lot of screen time, start replacing that time with reading. Yes, it will take time and may feel like an inconvenience, but it is worth it. Being able to read to my kids gives them quality time with me while they are learning.

TWO

Create Reading Routines

Kids thrive on routines. Start adding reading into your existing routines. In the morning and/or at bedtime, read a devotional or a few stories. If your kids are older, read book series like the Narnia series by C.S. Lewis before bedtime. Make reading to your kids a habit so it happens.

THREE

Go to the Library

Go to your library frequently and let your kids choose their own books. Libraries are a great way for your kids to read a variety of books, plus you don’t have to own tons of books. Libraries are really upping their game. Check out my post, “4 Surprising Free Resources at the Library.”

There are tons of classes for kids and adults of all ages. You can check out more than just books too. We have checked out camera lenses, puppet and book kits, cake pans, fishing poles, scrapbooking tools, projector and screen and so much more. The resources are amazing. Check out your libraries digital books and programs. Most of the books I read are free from the Hoopla App.

FOUR

Change your Mindset and What You Say

So many people have a negative attitude towards reading. If your kid has a negative attitude or maybe you do, address it. Change the way you talk about reading. If your child dislikes reading, don’t allow them to say negative things about reading. Teach them to rephrase it by saying things like “I am practicing reading” or “I’m learning to enjoy reading.”

There is so much research on mindsets. Most of us want our kids to have a growth-mindset and not a fixed mindset. In a fixed mindset, a child would say I am not a good reader and they would feel like that is their fate. They don’t believe that they could ever be a good reader, it is fixed.

But a growth-mindset child would say “I am working on becoming a better reader,” they know that it is within their power to be able to achieve or not. Pay attention to how you talk about reading. If you are negative towards reading, your children are more likely to be negative too.

If you say that you don’t have time to read, change what you are telling yourself. Let your children watch you read. Start changing your mindset first, and then watch how your family will follow.

Make reading a priority in your family and watch your family change and grow. Let’s make reading a priority so our children will have bright futures.